Overland Park, KS Special Events & Permits: Block Party Permits (2026)

16 defines a "parade" broadly: any march, ceremony, show, exhibition, pageant, foot race, bike race, athletic or sporting event or procession of any kind, or any similar display, in or upon any street, park or other public place that interferes or tends to interfere with the normal flow of traffic. A residential block party that closes a street to hold the gathering fits this definition, so organizers must obtain a parade permit before staging it; conducting one without a permit is a separate offense from knowingly participating in one that lacks a permit.

Applications go to the City Clerk not less than seven days before the event, though the Chief of Police may approve late applications if there is adequate time to review them and city resources are available. The Chief of Police must approve or deny within four business days of filing, and never less than 48 hours before the event. The application must list the organizer's contact information, the route or area, starting and ending points and times, and the approximate number of participants, animals and vehicles involved.

The Chief of Police approves the permit only after finding the event will not substantially interrupt traffic, divert police or ambulance resources, interfere with firefighting access, or create injury risk, and that it is not held solely to advertise a product or for private profit. Funeral processions and governmental agencies acting within their functions are exempt from the chapter entirely.